- Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley was forced to postpone a committee vote on Blanche’s nomination scheduled for last Thursday; the committee is set to vote Tuesday at 9 a.m. E.T., and Grassley said Blanche is the “right pick” for attorney general.
- Blanche issued an order that appeared to terminate the Trump administration's nearly $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, also clarifying a DOJ-brokered agreement between Trump and the IRS not to audit the president, his family or his businesses.
- Cornyn and Tillis made their announcement on Monday morning, expressing they were “pleased” with the order and looked forward to voting to advance Blanche’s nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- Grassley also thanked Trump, Blanche, Cornyn, and Tillis for working with him throughout the weekend “to get the votes to advance this well-qualified nominee.”
- Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) announced support for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, all but assuring victory for President Donald Trump’s bid to install his former personal attorney in the role permanently. The news virtually guarantees Blanche’s confirmation to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ).
- Trump has continued to vigorously defend the anti-weaponization fund, writing, “I will always feel that these victims of government abuse should be paid back for what they were forced to endure, their lives have been ruined!”
- The president has not yet publicly commented on Monday’s news about Tillis and Cornyn throwing their support behind Blanche.
Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis have publicly backed Todd Blanche for attorney general, a move that significantly enhances his prospects for confirmation. This endorsement follows Blanche's decision to rescind the Trump administration's $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, a controversial initiative that has faced scrutiny.3478910
In a statement, the senators expressed their satisfaction with Blanche's actions, stating, “We want to express our gratitude to Mr. Blanche and his staff for working with us on this, and we look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee soon.” The committee's vote is scheduled for Tuesday at 9 a.m. E.T., as confirmed by Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, who described Blanche as the “right pick” for the role.125
The decision to rescind the anti-weaponization fund appears to be a strategic move to secure support from key Republican senators. Grassley acknowledged the collaborative efforts of Trump, Blanche, Cornyn, and Tillis in garnering the necessary votes for Blanche's nomination. He stated, “to get the votes to advance this well-qualified nominee.”6
Despite the positive developments for Blanche, President Trump has continued to defend the anti-weaponization fund, emphasizing its importance in addressing government abuse. He remarked, “I will always feel that these victims of government abuse should be paid back for what they were forced to endure, their lives have been ruined!” The president has yet to comment on the senators' support for Blanche.11
“Grassley called Blanche the 'right pick' for attorney general after postponing last Thursday's committee vote and working with Trump, Cornyn and Tillis through the weekend to secure votes. The order also clarified a DOJ-brokered agreement between Trump and the IRS not to audit the president, his family or his businesses.”
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